Comparative effects of calcipotriol ointment (50 micrograms/g) and 5% coal tar/2% allantoin/0.5% hydrocortisone cream in treating plaque psoriasis.

The comparative efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of calcipotriol ointment (50 micrograms/g) and 5% coal tar/2% allantoin/0.5% hydrocortisone cream were determined in 122 patients with chronic plaque psoriasis affecting at least 100 cm2 of skin. Both preparations were applied twice daily for up to 8 weeks. At the end of treatment, investigators considered calcipotriol significantly more effective in the proportion of patients 'cleared' or 'markedly improved' (calcipotriol 72.3%, coal tar/allantoin/hydrocortisone 49.1%: p < 0.02). Calcipotriol was also superior in reducing the total sign score (p = 0.002), and individual scores for scaliness (p < 0.0001) and thickness (p = 0.001). The proportion of patients with less than 100 cm2 of affected skin at the end of treatment was significantly greater in the calcipotriol group (p < 0.05). Patients considered calcipotriol significantly more effective overall (p < 0.02) and in reducing flakiness/scaliness of skin (p = 0.001). Adverse events, most of which were application related and mild to moderate, were recorded in 15 (23.1%) patients using calcipotriol and in 10 (17.5%) patients using coal tar/allantoin/hydrocortisone (n.s.), and contributed to treatment withdrawal in one (1.5%) and three (5.3%) patients, respectively.